Free summer lunch program kicks off Monday at Cañon City High School

Popular summer lunch program offers fresh fruits and veggies and a variety of featured entrees

By CARIE CANTERBURY canterburyc@ cañoncitydailyrecord.com

Posted:
05/29/2013 02:13:26 PM MDT

Lilly Burton, left, and Bella Burton peruse the lunch line in June 2012 at the USDA Summer Food Free Lunch Program sponsored by the Cañon City School District at Cañon City High School. The 2013 lunch program runs Monday through Aug. 2 at CCHS. (Daily Record/Jeff Shane)

The school year ends today for the Cañon City School District, but some foodservice workers are preparing to cook for the masses at Cañon City High School beginning Monday.

The USDA Summer Food Free Lunch Program begins its third year Monday offering kids and adults a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables along with the typical kid-friendly entrees.

Paula Buser, manager of nutrition services for the District, said the program is open to everyone from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday through Aug. 2 at CCHS, 1313 College Ave.

Cost for lunch is free to all children and youth under the age of 19; cost for adults is $4.

"The program is funded by the USDA," Buser said. "We receive so much funding per meal, and that funding is enough to cover all of our costs for that program. There is no cost to the district for this program."

Buser said the lunch program actually generates a small amount of revenue.

"All the costs associated with the program are covered by the funding that we receive plus the cash payments we receive from the adults that eat there," she said.

A recently obtained grant will be used to purchase additional chairs and tables to accommodate more seating.

"I see this program being sustained for many years to come," Buser said. "There is a need here in the community. Participation is critical for it to be sustained."

The scope of the menus has been broadened this year, she said.

"I felt there was too much repetition in the past with the items that we served," she said. "This year there is not nearly as much repetition -- I basically have a June menu and I run the same menu in July, so they're only going to see entrees repeat twice instead of four or five times."

The menu consists of the most popular items served in schools throughout the school year including orange mandarin chicken, boneless chicken wings, turkey 'n gravy, cheeseburgers, Bosco styx Marinara sauce and more. This year, Papa John's pizza will be served on select days as well as fresh sandwiches from Subway. Fresh fruits and vegetables are served daily.

"It's important that people know that this is not just for free- and reduced-lunch kids," Buser said. "Anyone under the age of 19 in the community can come and take advantage of this program."

Kids Club and the Boys and Girls Club of Fremont County take part regularly in the program, as well as day cares and other kids groups.

"This year we are servicing some school-aged kids from a larger child care center at a different location," Buser said. "It's a closed site, but we are expanding the program to take care of some of their needs. It's exciting to be feeding 20 to 30 more kids a day."

In 2011, the program served about 10,000 meals and in 2012, more than 12,000 meals were served.

"This year it would be cool to hit 15,000," Buser said. "I really want to encourage people to go and take advantage of it."

Groups of 15 or more are asked to call ahead at 276-5887.

"We also will have the 'feed the need to read' program on Mondays and Thursdays," she said. "Kids can come in and pick up a book, take it home, read it and bring it back. It was extremely successful last year, I know parents really appreciated it."

The Florence-Penrose School District is not offering a summer lunch program this year, but kids and families from that area are welcome to participate at CCHS.

For more information, or to view the June and July lunch menus, visit http://bit.ly/18vk96T. The lunch menus also will run in the daily Bulletin Board section of the Cañon City Daily Record.

Free Kids Summer Lunch Program

WHO: Everyone!

WHAT: Enjoy a fresh fruit and veggie bar and a variety of featured entrees.

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